Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.
The Long Road
Chapter 8: Attitude Adjustment
Gohan's face slammed into a pile of rock. His hands slowly came up, pushing back against the now crumbling stone. Well, that hurt a lot. There was a long shadow already over him. Right, no rest for the-
The internal thoughts were cut off as Piccolo kicked him again, this time sending him flying back and breaking through several rock walls before ending up being embedded in the side of a small cliff. Raising his head, he looked up to see Piccolo standing there with his arms crossed.
"Alright Gohan, so today all I can say is you've been sloppier and worst all than usual. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why," Piccolo remarked, looking more irritated than anything else.
Yea, as if he knows-
"Going around all night beating up criminals, and then fighting a woman all night on a roof before dragging her off to the city equivalent of a cave for sex is probably not the most productive way to prepare for training."
... I have no privacy, do I?
The look he must have given Piccolo caused the Namekian to smirk, even chuckle lightly.
"Yea, first things first, you don't have to worry about me informing your parents, but I can tell you this, if you want to train and get stronger, and I know you want to get stronger, there are going to be some ground rules."
It was Gohan's turn to smirk. Ground rules for training? Please, he was more than aware of how to train... just not like these guys did. As far as he could tell, Piccolo, Goten, and Kakarot trained far, far more intensely than anyone he'd ever met back at the Planet Trade.
So if this was truly the key to their strength, well, perhaps he should listen.
The smirk on Gohan's face slowly changed to a thin line as he'd thought about it.
"I can already see those wheels turning in that thick head of yours. So let me tell you how this is going to be. You train, you eat, you sleep, that's it," Piccolo explained. "You want to spend time going off and making a fool of yourself in some city? Do it, but don't expect to train with me. And if you do it with Goku he'll immediately know that you've been up to something the night before. I get the feeling that you'd rather not have many questions about last night."
"Questions in what-"
"Like the capacity of your girlfriend back there to say no," Piccolo's face was written with a kind of disgust.
"Hey now," Gohan started. "I didn't-"
"In the most specific terms, you are correct Gohan. In practical terms, well, I'm an asexual creature so its not really my business. I just keep tabs on-"
"You know," the Saiyan teen said, looking increasingly annoyed. "I don't go following you around in your private life."
"My private life involves less questionable sexual activity and violence," Piccolo deadpanned. "You'll probably thank me eventually, given the complete mess you might cause otherwise, when you finally stop and think about it."
Mess? What the hell does he mean?
"Tell me Gohan, because I don't think you're as slow-witted as Goku, what precautions did you take last night?"
It was clear from the Namek's facial features that he didn't want to be the one going over this with him, making Gohan roll his eyes.
Please, I think I'm experienced enough to know this.
"Precautions?" Gohan scoffed. "What do you mean?"
"I could mean for multiple things. To make sure you weren't photographed so people could tell who you were. To make sure while having sex, you didn't accidentally conceive with the girl."
Gohan's eyebrows knit together slowly. Was this Namek an idiot? He was an Alien compared to the local feeble creatures on this planet.
"Well, firstly, I don't care if they notice who I was. Second of all, I'm a saiyan, I'm hardly compatible with the local wild life-"
The look Piccolo gave him was one of real disappointment, but it was the kind of look that was also saying 'you're an idiot'. Gohan didn't understand what was going on until Piccolo cleared his throat.
"Tell me Gohan, what race is Chi-Chi, your mother?"
Gohan blinked. Well, he'd always thought she was a Saiyan. Black hair, black eyes, relatively stronger...
"I... I've never really thought about it, I mean... I guess I don't-"
"Is Chi-Chi a saiyan?"
The critical look Piccolo was giving him began to tell another story than what he preferred reality being. Slowly, his features began to become confused. Well if she wasn't Saiyan, what was she?
"... I'm guessing by the look you are giving me, that would be a no."
"Very good Gohan. Now on the planet Earth, if she's not a saiyan, then what would she be?" Piccolo questioned, sounding annoyed.
"Well, it'd only be logical that she'd be-"
Oh.
His words trailed off and his mind adjusted himself. It would appear humans and saiyans produced viable offspring, it was very obvious given that he was alive, Goten was alive, and Vegeta's boy Trunks was alive. Ah, consequences, it'd been so long since he'd had any for that kind of behaviour.
Gohan suddenly felt one big relief. Right, at least he didn't know the girl, and she was probably no one important. So that meant this situation would just blow over regardless of the result. This planet had billions of people on it, and he barely interacted with them. In other words, this would all just work itself out. But, cautious behaviour in the future clearly had to take priority. And Piccolo's idea of... fight, sleep, and eat, were probably the easiest way to avoid problems.
I guess that's what Kakarot does.
"Alright, I get you're point. I'll stay out of the public eye, and I'll be careful."
"Good."
Piccolo then grabbed Gohan, pulling him from the rock and slamming his knee into him.
"Training isn't done yet."
Gohan gasped for air, before looking up at Piccolo resentfully.
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One Week Later:
Nervous, that was best how Gohan described himself as he landed at his father's home on Mount Paozu. The trees gently swayed in the wind after he'd landed. He'd forgotten how peaceful this place seemed, something he was gradually growing accustomed to, rather than the chaos of a command centre, of the destruction of a world he was purging. The unfamiliar setting had been uncomfortable at first, when he'd first arrived.
Now it was strangely welcoming.
Walking forward, he noticed two little figures jump out from behind the house, the black haired one giving chase to the purple haired boy.
"Get back here Trunks!" Goten laughed.
"No way! You're the one whose It Goten!" Trunks laughed.
"No fair! You tagged me!"
"That's the point!" Trunks laughed before freezing, Goten slamming into him as the boy stared over to the older saiyan.
The two bowled over before staring at Gohan.
"Big brother!" Goten suddenly grinned excitedly, standing up to look at his brother with a big grin.
"Hey brat."
What else was he supposed to say? He didn't know Goten outside of the fact the kid was a bouncing ball of happiness and energy. Brother was a title he couldn't place to him outside of the basic biology of it.
Still, the disappointed look on Goten's face was evident at the lack of reciprocation of the honoured title of brother.
Sighing just nodded to the two kids.
"So where are Chi-Chi and Kakarot?"
Goten looked about for a second, looking very quiet, before looking at Trunks, who looked back with equal nervousness.
"Well, uhm. Mom finally got really worried and left with dad a little while ago to go talk to Piccolo about where you were. You've been all over the news for days for having stopped some cut-"
"You mean cult," Gohan interjected.
"Right, that's the word. Well, dad kept telling her you were fine, but mom insisted on-" Goten was cut off, but this time not by Gohan.
Landing next to Trunks, Vegeta had an irritated look on his face. The Prince of All Saiyans was clearly there to pick up his son.
"Trunks, it's time to leave."
"Aw, but dad-"
"Now. I'm picking you up because I'll be training and later and your mother wants you to be home at a reasonable time. No arguing with me boy, I've already heard enough of your mother's whining for one day."
It was the sight of a hurried father trying to collect his son, in some ways it was unfamiliar for Gohan to watch, but he understood it.
Vegeta looked at Gohan, realizing the other Saiyan was present.
"Oh look, the Boot-lick. I was wondering when you'd have the courage to show up again," Vegeta said, his smirk appearing.
Fine, I'm a boot-lick. You're such a...
"You honour me, Prince Douchebag," Gohan said formally, attempting to sound sincere, bowing his head in mock salute towards the man he'd been respectful to just the other day.
Vegeta blinked, before scowling furiously. It looked like he was about to crack his own teeth he was clenching his jaw so tightly.
"What did you just call me?" he asked dangerously.
"A douchebag, I believe its a derogatory term that the humans on this planet use to describe someone who is an arrogant, self absorbed individual. To my understanding, a douchebag in terms of functionality is a item which-"
Gohan never got to complete his explanation, his body flying back, slamming through a tree, and then another... and then another.
He rolled along the forest floor several moments, before his back hit another tree, immediately halting his movement.
Well, that was worth it.
Struggling to get up for a moment, Gohan felt himself chuckling. Well, at least that was pretty amusing. Wincing, he looked up, realizing there was a shadow being cast over him. It was thankfully not the shadow of the angry midget prince.
Instead, it was Kakarot.
The man he'd not wanted to face since the confrontation with Vegeta over a week ago.
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Over a Week Earlier:
The moment had been tense since Vegeta had started speaking, stating he was a traitor. Gohan knew Frieza had destroyed Planet Vegeta, but the truth was Frieza was dead. He never served Frieza, or if he did it was for a very short period of time. Cooler was vastly more intelligent than Frieza, he never feared him. Even when he gained strength over his other underlings, Cooler rewarded him.
Over the years, despite his cruelty, despite his harshness, Gohan found the Arcosian to be more than fair. There was a sense of loyalty not brought about exclusively by fear developed there. In the world he lived in, a world where one could trust no one, Gohan had learned to trust his master as much as one could given the circumstances.
What did Vegeta know? What did he know of treachery?
"Being a Board Member, means that Gohan, the scum that he is, licked enough boot and kissed enough ass of Frieza's to be promoted through the ranks to lord over his fellow warriors. Its a disgrace that any saiyan-"
Licked boot? He licked dirt when enemies slammed their boots into the back of his head. Or when they tore through him with blades, or attacks. When they tore his arm off, or split his head open. That was what it was to be a boot-lick? How dare this presumptuous son of a bitch call him a boot-lick. He was many things, but he never begged or pleaded for position, he earned it with blood and sweat.
"I never served Frieza! I served-"
"Served some other lizard? You disgrace, you dare call yourself a saiyan? Have you no pride?! Were it not for Kakarot I'd kill you where you stand!"
"Vegeta, that's enough," Goku finally cut in.
"Is it Kakarot? Or is it you've heard enough? You have no idea the beast you keep in your home. If he was a C.O.O., he made executive decisions. He chose the planets that were to die at the hands of the Planet Trade. He's the one who disciplined soldiers for failing to kill whole worlds. He would have only answered to his foul master. To gain such a position, you needed to be unflinchingly loyal to Frieza or his family. There was no loyalty to the men in the organization, and no conscience. Zarbon proved that when he briefly filled the role," responding scathingly, Vegeta scowled at Kakarot.
"Tell me boy, how many times did you slaughter men for refusing to do their mission, or failing?" Vegeta demanded. "How many of your own, not even saiyans, but you're own allies did you slaughter?"
A furious set of eyes locked onto Vegeta with a deadly gaze. Gohan was angry, very, very angry.
"None," Gohan answered, his jaw wired shut almost a second later as he fumed. "Failures and traitors aren't my comrades at all, Prince Vegeta."
The words left everyone there silent. It wasn't just the admission of everything he had done, but a justification for it.
The looks on Chi-Chi and Goku's faces were shocked, staring at the hard eyed teenager as he gazed back at Vegeta coldly.
Only when Gohan turned his eyes briefly to them did they widen in shock, as if forgetting they had been there for his response. Honestly he had forgotten. Anger towards Vegeta was so complete he'd entirely forgotten that there were others with them.
The silence didn't break until golden energy blasted around Gohan's now furious form, staring at Vegeta as his hair spiked up and turned gold.
Smirking, Vegeta just crossed his arms.
"Oh? So now the Commander comes out. Tell me boy, with such an insufficient power, do you really intend to fight me?" Vegeta questioned, his smile confident.
"Gohan," Kakarot cut in. "Calm down, listen, whatever happened before-"
There it was again. Trying to accept him despite his 'shortcomings' as he was sure they were. Angrily, Gohan continued to stare at Vegeta, before his eyes traced to Vegeta's boy.
It wouldn't be more than a quick strike to the neck to finish that brat off. Terror tactics were a common tool, and he'd be lying if he said it was the first time he thought... or even acted on... killing a child to get under their parents skin.
Vegeta would likely retaliate immediately. But before he died, it'd feel good to take that arrogant fuck down a peg.
Ironically like Vegeta before, stating Kakarot was the only reason he lived, Kakarot was also the only reason Gohan didn't make a move towards the boy. Blue eyes traced back towards Vegeta as he scowled.
"Gohan!" Chi-Chi cried out as the teenager took off, heading towards the sky with speed, a golden trail of energy being left in his wake.
Enough of this. I can't be around here right now. I'll get myself killed.
There was however, also the element of shame he felt with the way his parents had looked at him.
Damn you Vegeta.
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"Yea, that's going to smart," Goku remarked as he looked down at Gohan, offering a hand to help him up.
Gohan disregarded the hand, pushing it aside before looking away, pushing himself up a moment later.
"Chi-Chi and I don't care-"
Ah, here we go again.
"I really wish you two would stop that," Gohan quickly cut in. "I don't want to talk about it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a bone to pick with the Prince of all Saiyans."
Wincing briefly, Goku nodded, but was clearly concerned.
"... spit it out."
The response had been there because of concern, and sadly, he needed to know why.
"Vegeta is much, much more powerful than you are Gohan, provided he didn't advance it'd take a year, maybe two, for you to start to come close to him in power. I'm not sure fighting him right now is a good idea," Goku warned honestly.
So that was it. Humiliated again, even after becoming a Super Saiyan. Was it his fate to forever be at the bottom of this planet's food chain? What was the point of training with the Namekian then? If Goku and Vegeta were both so far beyond him, why even bother getting stronger than he was?
But just as he was lost in his own thoughts, Goku smiled.
"Tell you what, I've got a plan," Goku said with a broad smile, turning around and walking towards his home, where Vegeta was waiting still.
What the hell is he doing?
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Walking in front of Vegeta, Goku just smiled to himself.
"Kakarot," Vegeta greeted him, looking towards the path of destruction Gohan's body had made. "What is it you want? Don't tell me you've come to fight that boy's battles for him," Vegeta commented with a smirk.
It was clear to Goku that Vegeta was spoiling for a fight, an opportunity to fight Gohan to exact some kind of retribution on a member of the organization which had enslaved him. Perhaps it was justified. Gohan had done terrible things, and could still do terrible things. Their confrontation only days ago had proven that.
But he wanted Gohan to change.
Images of his son crying into his gi in a kind of anguish a boy his age had no right to feel crossed his mind.
No, Gohan can change. Its not just some fantasy. I've felt it.
"No, but I've come to tell you to hold on before you fight him," the 3rd class Saiyan started. "Give me one week with him, and he'll be ready to fight you Vegeta. This isn't a death match, just a fight. What do you say?"
The question was posed with one of Goku's famous grins.
The wince of disgust and irritation Vegeta gave him in response lead the Saiyan to turn his eyes to one side.
"In a week? What makes you think that boy is even worth my time, Kakarot? He's a coward, he only hasn't come out here to fight him himself because he knows I'm stronger than he is. If I'm looking for a real fight, it'll be against you. Why would I waste my time with Executive Officer trash like him?"
Continuing his grin however, Goku continued.
"Tell you what, if you beat Gohan, you'll get to fight me after you recover, you pick the place and time, how does that sound?"
That caught his attention.
Goku saw the look in Vegeta's eyes.
"Fine then Kakarot, one week. I'll be sure I beat him to within an inch of his life."
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Cracking his head from side to side, Gohan began to walk towards the house again, seeing Goten, the brat, running towards him with a big grin.
"Oh wow! You're so lucky!"
Lucky? Getting hit in the face is lucky in this family?
"Why, what's up?"
When his father emerged a second later with a big grin on his face, he immediately felt nervous. Eyes locked onto Kakarot seriously, trying to figure out what he'd done.
"Hey Gohan, good news."
Uh oh. He's just like the brat! What don't I know?
"Well, in a week you're going to get to fight Vegeta! It'll be great!"
The excited decree from his father nearly caused his heart to stop. Fight Vegeta? The Vegeta who was supposed to be intensely stronger than he was? Why the hell should that be good?
Angrily, Gohan snarled at Kakarot, stepping forward with a closed fist.
"How is that good you idiot!? What, are you trying to get me killed?!"
The grin turned into a smirk that was all too familiar. It almost looked like the one Turles used to give. Blinking to himself, Gohan calmed, realizing there was something else to all this.
"You aren't just going to fight Vegeta, Gohan. You're going to win."
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A/N: Heya guys. I hope everyone is still enjoying. I'll try my best to have chapter 9 up for next Sunday. I've been kinda busy lately so I haven't had as much time for The Long Road, but I do hope to keep up my schedule.
Reviewers:
Luke: I'm glad someone picked up on that XD
Aquestra: Deep down, he's still Gohan. But he had to do things to survive that he never could without changing. The longer he has peace, the closer he'll come to who he really is. But I think the damage is done to the point where he could never, ever be the Gohan of Dragon Ball. He'll be radically different, but he's still Gohan.
Eveline: Turles was killed by Lord Slug :(. Turles and Paragus largely raised Gohan from his arrival in the Planet Trade. He was as close to Turles as Saiyan warriors could be close. Turles was his reluctant substitute father, but he was all Gohan had.
Kaosmoshpit: Gohan going to school? In this? I dunno if that'd work out so well for anyone. He's not really able to cope with people that well, especially those weaker than him.
Ky111: As a fighter, and as a person, Gohan has to go through a lot in the next two chapters. He'll have to make big decisions.
Sirius potter2: Thanks. :)